Five Coaches Who Could Replace Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea

Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino have parted ways by mutual consent just after one season of the Argentine at the helm, as the club confirmed in a statement via its website. The news of Pochettino leaving Chelsea would undoubtedly come as a shock to a lot of Chelsea fans after the Argentine seem to hit a purple patch in the second half of the season.

Pochettino’s tenure failed to meet the expectations of a big club like Chelsea, as they finished in the sixth position on the Premier League table. This is considering the fact that they spent more than £400 million on new signings during the summer.

According to reports, the feeling internally at Chelsea was tensed as the hierarchy could not come to an agreement whether or not to continue with Pochettino after a campaign in which they struggled at some point in mid-table after spending £1 billion since the takeover in 2022, which is why, at the end of the day, Chelsea decided to relieve him of his duties.

With Pochettino’s departure confirmed, attention has turned to potential candidates who could lead Chelsea into the next era of success. Here, we explore five coaches who could be in contention for this position.

Miguel Sánchez

Miguel Sánchez, commonly known as Michu, became a sensation after his remarkable campaign with Girona, as they are on the verge of ending in the third position in the ongoing La Liga campaign and securing a spot in the 2024/25 UEFA Champion League group stages. Following his incredible campaign with the Catalan club, he will really be a big target for Chelsea.

Adding to the intrigue, Chelsea’s hierarchy will likely seek a younger profile of coach following Pochettino’s departure. This makes the Spaniard an interesting choice in the conversation about the possible replacements for Pochettino.

Thomas Tuchel

A familiar face at Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel could be tempted to make a return to the club where he once served as manager. The German led Chelsea to their second Champions League triumph in 2021. So, it is not surprising that a lot of Chelsea fans are demanding for his return after Pochettino’s departure was confirmed.

The German became a free agent after he revealed in a press conference that he failed to reach an agreement to extend his stay at Bayern Munich, who missed out on the domestic title for the first time in more than a decade. But Tuchel may not want to go back to Chelsea after a complete breakdown in relations between him and the ownership in his first stint at the West London club.

Sebastian Hoeneß

Sebastian Hoeneß came into the limelight after his impressive campaign with VfB Stuttgart, as he finished second above Bayern Munich and took them to their first Champions League campaign since 2010.

The German is only 42, and definitely falls into the category of coaches that Chelsea’s hierarchy need as replacement.  However, while Hoeneß is appreciated internally by the Chelsea board, he is fully focused on Stuttgart.

Enzo Maresca

Former Manchester City assistant manager and Pep Guardiola’s protégé, Enzo Maresca has put his coaching skills to the test at Leicester City. It has borne fruit as he returned the Foxes to the top flight of English football, clinching the EFL Championship title. His team plays with a very fluid and aggressive style, not holding back in their approach.

However, the Foxes are likely to face financial discipline at the start of the 2024/25 campaign, as they were alleged to have broken Premier League profitability and sustainability rules in the 2022/23 season. This could discourage the Italian if he receives an offer from the West London club. Meanwhile, Chelsea and Leicester City have clashed in the FA Cup this season, so Chelsea owners would have seen the tactical ability of Enzo Maresca.

Kieran McKenna

Some reports indicate that Chelsea has identified Kieran McKenna as one of the leading candidates to become the new Chelsea manager. The Englishman became a top priority in Chelsea’s potential managerial bid after securing back-to-back promotions for Ipswich Town to reach the Premier League for the first time in 22 years.

Moving to Chelsea would be a huge step up for him following the amazing job he has done at Ipswich. The deal could, however, have a hurdle, as Brighton and Hove Albion are also interested in signing the 48-year-old as De Zerbi’s successor.